Colorado State expels incoming student over racist social media post

CSU officials cite “violent and threatening nature of the language used” in making expulsion decision


Colorado State University expelled an incoming student due to a racist social media post, the university announced Wednesday.

The university found out about the post in June, prompting a review through the student conduct process.

“Due to the violent and threatening nature of the language used, this post moved beyond the protections of the First Amendment,” CSU officials said in a tweet.

The university said the review process ended, determining the incoming student violated CSU’s Student Conduct Code.

“As a result, the individual has been disciplinarily expelled from CSU,” university officials said in a tweet.

In a statement to The Denver Post, CSU said officials could not provide specifics on the content of the social media post other than to say it contained violent, racist and homophobic language.

The expulsion comes amid nationwide scrutiny about long-standing racial inequities in America prompted by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May. Protesters across the state and nation have taken to the streets, decrying police brutality targeting Black people and inspiring reform such as a new police accountability law in Colorado and Denver Public Schools winding down its relationship with the Denver Police Department.

CSU faced criticism for the handling of a similar situation in November when students photographed posing in blackface were not punished. CSU officials cited the First Amendment in their decision at that time.

“As a public institution, CSU is considered an arm of the government and, as such, we are legally prohibited by the both the Colorado and United States constitutions from censoring free expression,” CSU’s statement Wednesday read. “That does not mean that all expression or conduct is protected by the First Amendment, however, including threats of violence. When conduct goes beyond the protections of the First Amendment, such as that contained in the social media post at issue here, we can and do refer it to existing university processes. That said, the First Amendment and the case law interpreting it is highly complex and CSU must carefully consider the facts in each individual situation.”

In November, CSU President Joyce McConnell listened to a room full of students of color sharing their experiences with racism and vowed to do better, admitting that the university had failed its diverse students.

The 2019 incident prompted the creation of a Race, Bias and Equity Initiative, responsible for better educating CSU students about diversity and improving the university’s response to bias-related incidents.